DC Council At Large race

[Anonymous]

I’m overwhelmed by the number of candidates. I think I’m going to vote to re-elect White, but after that, not sure who to choose. I’m concerned about the fiscal health and future of the city. Things are good now, but they won’t always be, especially with the pandemic. Thoughts on the candidates? Favorites?

[Anonymous]

Look to see who GGWash endorses. They’re a liberal but capitalist urbanist group. No one has a better plan for the whole city - poor and rich - than GGWash. Their endorsement slate is usually who I vote for.

[Anonymous]

To give you a sense, here are the GGWash endorsements for the primary.

Amid the coronavirus crisis, DC voters are mailing in absentee ballots now and/or will cast them in person on June 2. The GGWash Elections Commtitee endorses Janeese Lewis George for Ward 4, Vince Gray for Ward 7, both Trayon White and Mike Austin for Ward 8, and Robert White for at-large, in the 2020 DC Democratic primary, We’ve already endorsed Patrick Kennedy in Ward 2.

https://ggwash.org/view/77510/dc-endorsements

A little wishy washy on W8, but their long form explanation of their reasoning is quite good. Ends with:

“ The political discourse in Ward 8 is, in many ways, much smarter than in the rest of the city, and its residents will benefit from the dynamism of this primary. White is a fine councilmember. Mike Austin would be, too.”

[Anonymous]

Marcus Batchelor and Ed Lazere are both on my watch list. In think they both have strengths that we need at this time.

[Anonymous]

Um, GGW endorsed Trayvon White who literally said that Jewish people control the weather. I think I’ll pass.

[Anonymous]

Voting for Chander

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look to see who GGWash endorses. They’re a liberal but capitalist urbanist group. No one has a better plan for the whole city - poor and rich - than GGWash. Their endorsement slate is usually who I vote for.

They endorsed Trayon White, an unrepentant bigot who has done jack shit to advance the urbanist agenda (he's actually done more to halt it). But by all means, vote based on what GGW says.

[Anonymous]

Most observers say four candidates — Marcus Goodwin, Christina Henderson, Ed Lazere and Vincent B. Orange Sr. — are best positioned because of their higher profiles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marcus Batchelor and Ed Lazere are both on my watch list. In think they both have strengths that we need at this time.

I like Markus Batchelor and Ed Lazere. I am also interested in Chander Jayaraman since he was the chair of my ANC.

But here's the thing - I think I'm going to have to vote strategically. WaPo indicated they thought the front runners were Marcus Goodwin, Lazere and Vincent Orange. This suggests I should vote for Lazere rather than review my preferences and decide because Lazere has the most name recognition of my three. Does anyone have any idea who are the front runners? I hate to take the WaPo's word for it but I don't know how else to decide. Markus Batchelor is very appealing but I may go with Lazere because of this.

[Anonymous]

I like Markus Batchelor and Monica Palacio but because there are so many people running, I’ll probably vote for Ed Lazare. He’s the most progressive of the people with the most name recognition.

[Anonymous]

Do any of the candidates openly support DC police, or pushing back against rising crime rates? That's about the only issue I'd be looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most observers say four candidates — Marcus Goodwin, Christina Henderson, Ed Lazere and Vincent B. Orange Sr. — are best positioned because of their higher profiles.

I don't know much about him but I'd say about 90% of candidate signs in my Ward 4 neighborhood are for Marcus Goodwin.

[Anonymous]

Seen some Franklin Garcia signs,

[Anonymous]

Marcus Goodwin is far and away the best choice for the at-large seat. Every other candidate is just another shade of gray. Boring and bureaucratic. Marcus is a local success story, grad of Harvard and UPenn, that you'd think would be championed by the residents of DC except he has real world experience as a developer. For some reason real world experience and the ability to actually read a balance sheet is somehow a liability on the council that loves to lose when it comes to contracts and housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Marcus Goodwin is far and away the best choice for the at-large seat. Every other candidate is just another shade of gray. Boring and bureaucratic. Marcus is a local success story, grad of Harvard and UPenn, that you'd think would be championed by the residents of DC except he has real world experience as a developer. For some reason real world experience and the ability to actually read a balance sheet is somehow a liability on the council that loves to lose when it comes to contracts and housing.

The "real world experience" you talk about is sweet deals for your buddies, corruption (if not outright), and lip service to actual justice. We've been loving it for the past few mayors and. I'm sick of it. Goodwin comes off about as genuine as Brandon Todd.